Vibration-damping handlebar assembly

Abstract

Motorized vehicles such as motorcycles, which utilize handlebars for control, exhibit a significant problem in that they transmit engine and road vibrations through the handlebars to the operator which can cause numbness, tingling and nerve damage under long-term exposure.

1 . A vibration-damping, clip-on handlebar assembly, used to steer a motorcycle. Handlebar assembly is comprised of a bar having a first end, a second end and a shoulder; an elastomeric damper and a receiver, wherein said handlebar assembly dampens engine vibrations to the operator's hands by means of isolating said bar from said receiver; and attachment means for securely maintaining said bar within said receiver. 
     
     
         2 . Wherein the attachment means is comprised of an elastomeric insert that is either bonded within said receiver or compressed within said receiver by means of a fastener that fastens into end of said bar which compresses said damper within the bore of said receiver, wherein said bar and damper are held within the bore of said receiver and said handlebar is suspended therein by compression fit.
 a) A vibration-damping, clip-on handlebar assembly that is used in combination with a motorcycle fork, wherein said assembly is comprised of:   b) a bar having a mesial end and a distal end, said mesial end having a shouldered section,   c) a damper sleeve wherein the shouldered section of said bar is inserted into the inner area of said sleeve,   d) a receiver with a bore wherein said damper/bar subassembly is in-turn inserted into the bore and attached to the bore of said receiver, said receiver also being the means by which said handlebar assembly attaches to motorcycle fork as to allow said assembly to control the motorcycle.   
     
     
         3 . The handlebar assembly as specified in  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly is used on a powered two-wheeled vehicle that is selected from the group consisting of a motorcycle, a dirt bike, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and a bicycle. 
     
     
         4 . The bar is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The damper sleeve is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of rubber, elastomer and plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration damping handlebar assembly as specified in  claim 2  wherein said bar and said damper are frictionally held within the bore of said receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The vibration damping handlebar assembly as specified in  claim 2  wherein said bar and said damper are bonded, fused or glued within the bore of said receiver. 
     
     
         9 . The vibration damping handlebar assembly attaches by clamping to the fork of a motorcycle. 
     
     
         10 . The vibration damping handlebar assembly is in-turn fastened to a separate clamp, which is clamped to the fork of the motorcycle, wherein said assembly can be adjusted for height and/or tilt on said clamp.